Rooted and Grounded in Love

Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Ephesians 3:14-21

Brothers and sisters:
I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory
to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine,
by the power at work within us,
to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19

R. (5b) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Alleluia Phippians 3:8-9

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I consider all things so much rubbish
that I may gain Christ and be found in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided,
three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son
and a son against his father,
a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother,
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint John Paul II, Pope

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Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

October 22, 2026 // Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time // Optional Memorial of Saint John Paul II, Pope

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Ephesians 3:17-19.

Reflect on the Word //

On September 19, 1987, we waited with our seven-month-old daughter and 93,680 people for the arrival of Pope John Paul II. As the popemobile entered the Pontiac Silverdome (normally home to loud football fans), a quiet, awed hush fell over the crowd as we recognized the tangible presence of holiness and greatness. Smiling and waving, the Pope made his way to the stage for the papal Mass, and then quite unexpectedly, stopped directly in front of our seats. We thrust our daughter high in the air and John Paul II extended his hand towards baby Sarah, bestowing on her a papal blessing!

Today as we celebrate the Memorial of Pope Saint John Paul II and I ponder today’s Mass readings, I am reminded of our brief but powerful encounter with him almost forty years ago. In the First Reading, Saint Paul prayed fervently that believers in Christ might be given a deep understanding of God’s sacrificial love, resulting in perfect union with Him. Saint Paul’s prayer was beautifully embodied in the life of Pope John Paul the Great.

Christ dwelt in Pope John Paul the Great’s heart through faith (see Ephesians 3:17) and, although the Saint was a brilliant theologian and writer, he did not merely give an intellectual assent and articulation of truth. His faith was also expressed in deep trust and faithfulness to Jesus, despite much suffering and loss. God’s love, conveyed through his loving family and the extraordinary motherly protection and care of the Blessed Mother, was the foundation on which young Karol Wojtyła’s life was built and the soil in which he was planted and grew.

God’s power (see Ephesians 3:18) enables us, like it did John Paul II, to personally experience the great dimension of Christ’s infinite, sacrificial love expressed upon the Cross. Amid a darkening world, Divine Love compelled him to fight for human freedom and a renewed call to holiness. And we too are compelled by that same Divine Love.

Sisters, today let us ask Saint Paul and Saint John Paul the Great to pray for us! May we also be rooted and grounded in Christ’s love, and have the power to know and to witness to this love that surpasses knowledge.

Relate to the Lord // Consider praying this prayer of Saint John Paul II today.

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About Debra Herbeck

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Debra Herbeck is a Jewish convert to the Church who serves extensively in youth and women’s ministry. She has directed Pine Hills Girls Camp for 40 years and counting, and is the Founder and Director of Be Love Revolution. She and her husband have four children and twelve grandchildren. She is a contributing author to Blessed Conversations: Dwell and Misericordia and the author of the Blessed is She 2026 Lent devotional Who Do You Say that I AM? Find out more about her at renewalministries.net.